Clothes-clamp.



R. V. LEE.

CLOTHES CLAMP. APPLICATION FILED APR- 8, 1914.

R0 1 9 l 0 2 R p A d W m t a P wuwlw RICHHRD V- LEE THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTD-LITHOZ. WASHINGIUN. D. C

RICHARD V. LEE, 0]? CALISTGGA, CALIFORNIA.

CLOTHES-CLAMP.

Lll tifid ll.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2Q, 1915.

Application filed April 8, 1914. Serial No. 830,456.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, RICHARD V. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Calistoga, in the county of Napa and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps, and more particularly to clamps which are designed for use in securing wearing apparel or the like upon clothes lines.

An object of this invention is the provision of a clamp of this character which comprises a pair of substantially rectangular plates, one end of the plates diverging to form handles, and the opposite end of each of the plates being bent for engagement with a clothes line, the line engaging portions of the plates being normally forced together by a suitable spring.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a clothes clamp of this character, in which the plates comprising the clamp, are secured together by a length of spring wire, the Wire being bent to form loops for engagement on the outer faces of the line engaging portions of the plates, to normally force the same toward each other to securely hold the clothes engaged thereby upon the line.

With these and other objects in View, my invention consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevational View looking at one side of my improved clamp; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an elevational view looking at the opposte side of the clamp from that shown in Fig.1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numerals 1 and 2 designate pair of substantially rectangular plates, one end of each plate being bent outwardly at an angle to the body portion of the plate as at 3, to provide operating handles for the clamp, the opposite end of each plate being bent as at 4:, to form a jaw for engagement with the clothes line. The outer edges of the jaws of the plates are bent outwardly as at 5 so that the plates may readily engage the line without tearing or cutting the clothes sup ported thereupon. The opposite side edges of each of the plates are formed with notches 6, the notches 6 being formed in the plates immediately adjacent the inner ends of the outwardly bent handles 3, and a length of spring wire 7 is engaged around the plates within the registering notches 6 therein, to connect the plates together. One end of the wire 7 is coiled as at 8, at a point intermedi ate of the ends of the plate 1, the extremity of the wire extending from the coiled portion thereof and being bent to form a loop 9 for engagement against the jaw 4 of the plate 1. The wire is also bent intermediate of its ends as at 10, to form a loop for engagement against the outer faces of the jaw 4 of the plate 2, whereby the jaws of the plate are normally forced together by reason of the coiled portion 8 of the wire. The length of spring wire 7 is preferably galvanized, to prevent corroding of the same and thereby reducing the tension of the coiled portion 8 thereof.

If desired, the handle portions 3 of the plates may be corrugated as at 11, to prevent the fingers from slipping thereon when the same are forced together to open the jaws of the plates.

In the practical use of my device, with the clothes mounted upon the line in the ordinary manner, the handle portions 3 of the plates are grasped between the fingers and forced together to open the jaws 4 against the action of the spring so that the jaws may be readily engaged over the clothes supported on the line whereupon the pressure of the fingers against the handles 3 may be relieved to allow the jaws to close tightly against the clothes to hold the same upon the line.

From the above description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen thatthe spring wire 7 performs the double function of connecting the plates together, and also forcing the jaws thereof together to securely hold the clothes upon the line.

The plates 1 and 2 are preferably formed of galvanized metal to prevent the same from rusting the clothes supported upon the line, but it will be understood that the plates may also be made of wood or any other suitable material. As the clamp is highly ornamentative in design and light in weight, the same may be used as a holder for papers or bills in connection with filing cabinets, as

the jaW portions of the plates Will tightly clamp the papers therebetween owing to the pressure of the loops 9 and 10 upon the outer faces of the jaws.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I desire to secure and claim by Letters Patent is A clamp comprising a pair of elongated plates, said plates having registering notches formed in their opposite side edges intermediate of the ends of the plates, the plates on one side of the notches being bent outwardly to form handles, the plates on the other side of the notches being bent to form jaws, a length of spring wire engaged around said plates and having portions thereof disposed in the registering notches to pivotally connect the plates together, the Wire at a point intermediate of its ends being bent to form a laterally extending loop for engagement against the outer face of one of the jaws, one end of the wire being coiled at a point intermediate of the ends of the other plate, the extremity of the wire extending from the coiled portion thereof and being looped for engagement against the outer face of the jaw of said other plate.

In testimony whereof I hereunto ailix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD V. LEE.

Witnesses VVALTER H. JOHNSTON, PETER HOPKINS. Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

